AGP Executive Report

Agribusiness & Trade Fair: The second Great Agricultural Fair of Congo opened in Bambou-Mingali near Brazzaville, with hundreds of exhibitors and a China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center showcasing tomato, cassava and soybean varieties. Public Health & Community Works: In Wroto Town, sanitation-focused support helped reopen a public latrine, aiming to cut unsafe practices and improve hygiene for residents. Energy & LNG Logistics: Golar’s FLNG unit Hilli Episeyo left Cameroon for a major Singapore upgrade before redeployment to Argentina, with technical modifications and life-extension work planned. Mining Policy: Congo bans copper and cobalt concentrate exports, ordering changes that could reshape regional supply chains. Health Crisis: In Congo, Ebola response workers protested unpaid wages at the outbreak epicenter in Ituri, as confirmed cases rose to 3,973 with 1,801 deaths. Jobs & Skills: Alva’s Pragati 2026 job fair in India concluded with 285 companies selecting 2,394 candidates and shortlisting 5,935 for further rounds. Film & Media (Congo-set production): Priyanka Chopra and Russell Crowe are set to star in sci-fi thriller “Bluefly,” centered on a covert mission in Congo to recover a crashed aircraft.

Oil & Gas Logistics: Golar’s Hilli Episeyo FLNG unit has left Cameroon for a major upgrade stop in Singapore, a 50-day voyage to Seatrium yard, with $200m–$300m of work planned (repairs, life extension, winterisation, and a new soft-yoke mooring system) before redeployment to Argentina’s Gulf of San Matias. Agribusiness & Trade: The second Great Agricultural Fair of Congo opened in Bambou-Mingali near Brazzaville, drawing hundreds of exhibitors and showcasing Chinese-aided crop varieties and cassava flour, with the fair positioned as a regional market and technology showcase. Health & Workforce: In Congo’s Ebola epicenter Ituri, health workers staged protests over unpaid wages and bonuses, with cases reported at 3,973 and 1,801 deaths as facilities were abandoned despite ongoing spread. Mining Policy: President Hakainde Hichilema pledged to formalise Mufumbwe’s Kikonge mine and prioritise local employment and safer operations if re-elected, linking the promise to licences for locals and local development incentives. Energy & Industry Events: Energy Capital & Power (ECP) established its UK entity in London to expand energy and mining event and campaign delivery across Europe and connect investors to African projects.

Agribusiness & Trade: The second Great Agricultural Fair of Congo opened in Bambou-Mingali near Brazzaville, with hundreds of exhibitors and China-aided agronomy displays including cassava, soybeans, and tomato varieties—an on-the-ground push for farm productivity and regional supply chains. Mining Policy: Congo has ordered a ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports, aiming to push operators toward higher-value processing and marketing. Health & Workforce: Ebola response workers in Congo’s outbreak epicenter staged protests over unpaid wages and bonuses, with facilities reportedly abandoned even as cases continue to rise. Energy & Investment Events: Energy Capital & Power (ECP) formally launched a UK entity in London to expand energy and mining dealmaking between Africa and Europe. Mining Development (Regional): Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema pledged to formalise the Kikonge mine and prioritise local employment and safer operations if re-elected.

Mining & Trade Policy: The Republic of Congo has banned exports of copper and cobalt concentrate, pushing operators toward local processing, and introduced a new tax regime for mining by-products with a 55% valuation coefficient—moves that could force major firms (including Glencore and major Chinese producers) to rethink supply chains. Agribusiness & Food Systems: The second Great Agricultural Fair of Congo opened near Brazzaville, with hundreds of exhibitors and China-aided demonstrations showcasing cassava, soybeans and tomato varieties—an early signal of continued push for improved crop inputs and farmer-facing tech. Public Health & Labor: Congo’s Ebola response is strained as health workers at the outbreak epicenter protest unpaid wages and bonuses, with some abandoning facilities while cases continue to rise, highlighting how payroll and logistics can directly affect outbreak control. Energy & Industry Events: Energy Capital & Power (ECP) has established a UK entity in London to expand energy and mining events and investor campaigns serving Africa–Europe dealmaking.

Mining Policy: Congo has banned exports of copper and cobalt concentrate and introduced a new tax regime for mining by-products, aiming to push more local processing and keep more value in-country—moves that could force major firms like Glencore and Chinese producers to rethink supply chains. Public Health: Congo is facing its largest recorded Ebola outbreak, with WHO reporting thousands of cases and deaths, while health workers in Ituri protested unpaid wages and abandoned some facilities. Agriculture & Trade: The second Great Agricultural Fair of Congo opened near Brazzaville, featuring hundreds of exhibitors and China-aided crop displays (tomato, cassava, soybean), signaling continued investment in farming inputs and know-how. Regional Logistics: SumeaWorld, a new global trade hub in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone, consolidates sourcing and re-export services for markets across Africa and beyond—relevant to Congo-linked supply chains. Energy Markets: Indian refiners keep buying West African and Nigerian crude amid Middle East shipping disruptions, including Congo’s Djeno crude.

Mining Policy Shock: Congo has banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrate, pushing firms toward local processing and adding a new tax regime for mining by-products, with possible one-year waivers for “strategic” cases. Public Health Alert: WHO says Congo is facing its largest recorded Ebola outbreak in-country, with 3,605 cases worldwide and 1,587 deaths in Congo as of Aug. 1, in a conflict-affected setting with limited access to essentials. Trade & Logistics: SumeaWorld opened in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone as a 12,000-sq-m hub for sourcing, consolidation and re-export across 75+ countries, with roots in Congo and a 300+ supplier network. Shipping/Ports: Royal Van der Leun won electrical engineering work for an Easydredge 2700XL dredger to maintain Congo River navigability and keep ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. Regional Industry Watch: Central Africa’s BVMAC trading remains thin despite bank liquidity requests, highlighting a gap between available funds and market activity.

Ebola Response Disrupted: Health workers in Bunia, Ituri, staged protests over unpaid wages and bonuses, abandoning some facilities as Congo’s Ebola outbreak hits 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths, with WHO calling it the largest recorded in-country outbreak. Public Health & Logistics Pressure: Aid teams warn the disease is still spreading fast in a conflict-affected setting where access to basic services remains limited. Trade & Supply Chains: Dubai-based Sumea opened SumeaWorld, a 12,000-sq-m trade hub in Jafza, consolidating sourcing, warehousing and re-export logistics across 75+ countries; the firm says it grew from a Congo consumer-goods business. Energy Markets Watch: Reuters reports Indian refiners bought Middle East and West African crude despite shipping constraints, including Congo’s Djeno crude. River Shipping Support: Royal Van der Leun won electrical engineering work for a new Easydredge 2700XL dredger to maintain Congo River navigability for ports of Boma and Matadi.

Ebola Response: WHO says the Republic of Congo is facing its worst-ever Ebola outbreak, with 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths reported in Congo as of Aug. 1, with Ituri accounting for most cases and deaths. Trade & Logistics: Sumea, founded in Congo as a consumer-goods business, opened SumeaWorld, a 12,000-sq-m trade hub in Dubai’s Jafza to consolidate sourcing, warehousing and re-exporting across 75+ countries. Oil Finance Clarity: Namibia’s planning commission (after IPC criticism) clarified it will only factor oil and gas revenue into fiscal planning once projects reach final investment decision, aiming to protect debt sustainability. Regional Shipping Link: Royal Van der Leun won the electrical engineering scope for an Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger to maintain Congo River navigability and keep ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. Energy Event: African Energy Week 2026 confirmed Congolese musician Roga Roga as the headline for its JET Concert, blending energy networking with Central African culture.

Oil & Trade: Indian refiners bought 1 million barrels of Oman crude and state-run Indian Oil Corp snapped up 4 million barrels of West African grades including Congo’s Djeno crude, underscoring steady demand for Central African supply. Housing & PPPs: Tanzania’s National Housing Corporation is redeveloping ageing properties via public-private partnerships worth Sh535 billion, expanding to 62 projects and moving from planning into implementation. Deep-Sea Mining Governance: UN seabed talks are pushing “long” processes to challenge the US unilateral deep-sea mining push, as companies and Washington clash over permits and accountability. Intra-Africa Commerce & Creative Industry: Ghana’s Africa Monologue Challenge confirmed Nouvelle Place as the Pan-African House for Season 3, with the Republic of Congo among participating countries and Bombo Investments backing the AfCFTA-linked trade push. Port & Shipping Support: Royal Van der Leun won electrical engineering scope for an Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger to maintain Congo River navigability and keep ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. Energy Event Culture: Congolese musician Roga Roga confirmed as headline for African Energy Week 2026’s JET Concert, blending energy investment networking with Central African entertainment.

Deep-Sea Mining Diplomacy: UN seabed talks in Kingston launched long processes to challenge the US push for unilateral deep-ocean mining of critical minerals, with no quick breakthroughs as firms and Washington face scrutiny. Congo River Shipping Works: Royal Van der Leun won the electrical engineering scope for a new Easydredge® 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger to help maintain Congo River navigability and keep ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. Intra-Africa Trade & Creative Industry: Bombo Investments partnered with the Africa Monologue Challenge, confirming Nouvelle Place as the Pan-African House for Season 3 and bringing 12 finalists from across Africa (including the Republic of Congo) into a production and hospitality hub. Extreme Heat Planning: Atlanta City Council ordered a stronger extreme-heat safety plan after criticism of its response, including more cooling centers, targeted outreach, and wider warning channels. Regional Finance Market Pulse: A look at BVMAC trading shows thin activity on both equities and the bond market, even as banks seek refinancing—highlighting a gap between available resources and market use.

Deep-Sea Mining Governance: UN seabed talks in Kingston, Jamaica, launched “long” processes to challenge the US push for unilateral deep-ocean mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, as companies and US-linked permits face scrutiny. Pan-African Creative Industry: Africa Monologue Challenge confirmed Nouvelle Place in Ghana as the Pan-African House for Season 3, with a 25-room creative hub hosting 12 finalists from across the continent and diaspora from Aug 30–Oct 1, 2026. Intra-African Trade via Creative Platforms: Bombo Investments partnered with AMC to turn the intra-African trade agenda into commercial action under AfCFTA, using the AMC residency and storytelling network across 25 countries. Congo River Shipping Support: Royal Van der Leun won the electrical engineering scope for a new Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger to help maintain Congo River navigability and keep ports of Boma and Matadi accessible. Extreme Heat Planning: Atlanta City Council ordered a stronger extreme heat safety plan after criticism of its response to a July heatwave, including more cooling centers and faster public warnings. Oceans & Coastal Impacts: Reports highlight sargassum and related seaweed blooms as a growing, self-sustaining coastal problem affecting harbors, fishing, and public health.

Congo River shipping support: Royal IHC has teamed up with Royal Van der Leun for the electrical engineering scope of a new Easydredge® 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger, built in Vietnam, aimed at keeping the Congo River navigable so ports like Boma and Matadi stay accessible for international shipping. Central Africa market strain: A BVMAC trading day saw just 107 shares change hands (FCFA 9.27m) and no bond trades, while banks in the monetary union sought FCFA 535.5bn in refinancing—highlighting liquidity pressure alongside underused market depth. Energy industry spotlight: African Energy Week 2026 confirmed Congolese star Roga Roga for its signature JET Concert, blending energy investment networking with major regional entertainment. Regional trade push: Bombo Investments partnered with the Africa Monologue Challenge to advance intra-African trade under AfCFTA, using a pan-African creative platform to drive commercial action. Public health & livestock: FAO ran a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever prevention campaign in Afghanistan, strengthening veterinary services, disinfecting livestock markets and training handlers—an example of practical disease control that matters for regional food systems.

Dredging for Congo River access: Royal Van der Leun has won the electrical engineering scope for Royal IHC’s new Easydredge 2700XL trailing suction hopper dredger, under construction in Vietnam, with a ~3,000 m³ hopper to help keep the Congo River navigable and ports of Boma and Matadi reachable for international shipping. Intra-Africa trade push: Bombo Investments partnered with the Africa Monologue Challenge to back the AfCFTA agenda, using a pan-African creative platform ahead of AMC Season 3 in Ghana. Energy event culture: African Energy Week 2026 confirmed Congolese musician Roga Roga as headline for the conference’s JET Concert, blending networking with Central Africa’s music scene. Illegal fishing crackdown (Congo included): A Mombasa Declaration on fisheries transparency was signed by the Republic of the Congo and others, while China declined, raising pressure on vessel ownership and licensing data sharing. Local business spotlight: Loutaya, a handcrafted herbal tea brand founded by a Brazzaville-born Congolese entrepreneur in South Africa, is marketing Congolese botanicals to regional consumers. Health watch: Congo’s Ebola outbreak is reported near 3,200 cases, keeping regional health and response capacity in focus.

Intra-Africa Trade Push: Bombo Investments partnered with the Africa Monologue Challenge to advance intra-African trade under AfCFTA, with AMC Season 3 set for Ghana this September and a Pan-African House residency bringing creatives across 25+ countries into the trade-and-tourism agenda. Energy Event Spotlight: African Energy Week 2026 added Congolese star Roga Roga as headline for its signature JET Concert, positioning the show as a networking bridge between delegates, investors, and industry leaders. Ocean & Food Security Watch: A new push for transparency in fisheries was backed by the Republic of the Congo and others via the Mombasa Declaration, while China stayed out—an issue tied to illegal fishing’s hit on coastal jobs and animal protein supplies. Health Monitoring: FAO reported a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever prevention campaign across 20 Afghan provinces, strengthening veterinary services, disinfecting livestock markets, and training handlers to reduce spread risk. Regional Water Stress: Coverage highlighted Africa’s $50bn Lake Chad Basin water redirection plan, drawing on the Congo River Basin to protect livelihoods as Lake Chad shrinks and climate pressure worsens.

UN & Trade Diplomacy: Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed António Guterres, topping the UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll with 10 “encourage” votes. Food & Livestock Health: FAO says it ran a Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever prevention campaign in Afghanistan’s 20 provinces, boosting veterinary services, disinfecting markets and transport, treating livestock for parasites, and training about 100,000 families. Energy & Industry Events: Congolese musician Roga Roga is confirmed as headline for African Energy Week 2026’s JET Concert, blending business networking with major regional entertainment. Maritime & Fisheries Governance: A new Mombasa Declaration on illegal fishing transparency was signed by the Republic of the Congo and others, while China stayed out—aiming to improve vessel licensing, ownership data, and enforcement. Local Business & Supply Chains: SUMEAWORLD says it grew from a Congo consumer-goods store into an integrated procurement-to-distribution platform, targeting faster, more transparent trade for emerging markets. Corruption Watch (Energy): Aksa Enerji faces trial-linked allegations tied to a Ghana electricity contract bribery scheme, spotlighting how state-linked firms may seek market access abroad.

UN Leadership Watch: Rebeca Grynspan has pulled ahead in the UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll to succeed António Guterres, leading with 10 “encourage” votes. Energy & Events: Congolese musician Roga Roga is confirmed as the headline for African Energy Week 2026’s JET Concert, adding a major Central Africa cultural boost to the energy investment calendar. Fisheries Governance: The Republic of the Congo signed the Mombasa Declaration on illegal fishing, backing tougher vessel transparency and data sharing as China stays out. Food & Trade: Dangote Cement reports strong half-year growth, with analysts pointing to infrastructure demand across Congo and other markets. Agribusiness & Heritage: Brazzaville-born entrepreneur Rahim Bikouta is building Loutaya, a handcrafted herbal tea brand linking Congolese botanicals with South African tastes. Public Health: Congo’s Ebola outbreak nears 3,200 cases as health staff strike, raising pressure on response capacity.